Silly question about bringing wine aboard

[legalsec]

Since this is our first cruise, I don't want to try smuggling in wine or alcohol, so I will do it all legally (and pay the piper). Anyway, how does one bring 10 bottles of wine aboard? Do you pack it in a suitcase or just carry it in a box. This is probably common sense to experienced cruisers, but I really can't picture how to do it. Where does it go when you check it with your luggage and when does one pay the corkage fee?

 

Also, I've read about bar setups and that's what we'll probably do. We leave on the Gem 2/6/08, so who do I call or email and when? I saw the price list and it seems pretty high. What size are the bottles? Whatever it is, I guess I will again have to pay the piper (what a silly practice). And, finally, when do they deliver the liquor to your cabin?

 

Thanks for your help.

[cliffd64]

If you can manage to carry it on, its easier than putting it in your luggage and having to go get it later. Place it in a box and carry it, explain what it is, and then you will be asked to pay the corkage fee of $15 per bottle.

[jaja]

bar set up bottles are 1 liter..and there is a $3 service charge added to bottle cost.

[almtyrob]

I brought 9 bottles of wine on to Spirit in May and wrapped them in bubble wrap in my wheeled carry bag. They x-rayed it, I declared it & the corkage fee desk was no where in sight so on board I went.:D Enjoyed it all..corkage fee free. Pays to be honest?!

[taxmantoo]

I brought 9 bottles of wine on to Spirit in May and wrapped them in bubble wrap in my wheeled carry bag. They x-rayed it, I declared it & the corkage fee desk was no where in sight so on board I went.:D Enjoyed it all..corkage fee free. Pays to be honest?!

 

Hit and miss with that corkage fee desk most of the time. Good for you!

 

Were you still able to bring the wine to the Dining Room and have them open it for you without the paper receipt proving the corkage fee was paid and/or the pink tag they label the bottles with??? or did you just open it in your room ??? or did you just drink it in your room ???

[legalsec]

Hit and miss with that corkage fee desk most of the time. Good for you!

 

Were you still able to bring the wine to the Dining Room and have them open it for you without the paper receipt proving the corkage fee was paid and/or the pink tag they label the bottles with??? or did you just open it in your room ??? or did you just drink it in your room ???

 

Interesting question and brings up a whole new dynamic. So, do tell...what is the answer? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

[salty dingo]

It was my understanding that the corkage fee applies only to wine consumed in the public areas like the dining room. Unless something has changed, wine was allowed to be brought onboard for consumption in the cabin, corkage-free.

[newmexicoNita]

It was my understanding that the corkage fee applies only to wine consumed in the public areas like the dining room. Unless something has changed, wine was allowed to be brought onboard for consumption in the cabin, corkage-free.

NCL has had the corkage fee policy for about 4 years. If you bring it on at all there is a $15 charge. I would recommend wheeling it on in a small suitcase, yes wrapped well. If you get it on with ot without the charge you can take it to the dining room.

 

Nita

[garycarla]

It was my understanding that the corkage fee applies only to wine consumed in the public areas like the dining room. Unless something has changed, wine was allowed to be brought onboard for consumption in the cabin, corkage-free.

 

Not sure where you heard that, but as been discussed here often, people are not thrilled about paying the $15 for wine they dirnk in the cabin. It does not matter WHERE you drink it, but if you bring it aboard, they want their $15 profit.

 

Just the way it is.

[dadof2]

Hit and miss with that corkage fee desk most of the time. Good for you!

 

Were you still able to bring the wine to the Dining Room and have them open it for you without the paper receipt proving the corkage fee was paid and/or the pink tag they label the bottles with??? or did you just open it in your room ??? or did you just drink it in your room ???

 

We have never carried wine onto a ship but we have received wine and champagne as bon-voyage gifts several times.

 

No receipt, no pink tags - they can be brought to any dining room.

 

If you have a butler, just leave a note in the suite (in the AM) requesting that he deliver it to (whatever) restaurant and he will deliver it for you.

It will be "chilled" when you arrive for dinner:)

[almtyrob]

Yes! I brought a bottle of wine to the diningroom every night and no one questioned anything about a corkage fee. I assume that they assume that it was paid prior to boarding so there was no reason to request a receipt. Every waiter was cordial & served the wine properly w/o question. It was a wonderful surprise perk. Made the wine taste even better.:D

[flashdog_1]

Two scenarios. You buy a bottle of wine the first night but do not finish it. You have no idea where you will dine the next night. Does the bottle stay with the dining staff or do you take it back to your cabin? Or can you use it in the theater, for instance, that same night? If not consumed that night, do you hand carry it to the restaurant of your choice the 2nd night?

 

If you brought wine from home, it because of Freestyle Dining that you yourself carry the wine to the restaurant each night? Or is it just your choice to carry it yourself? Is that awkward to be running around the ship with it? (We usually stop for a drink at a lounge before dinner, and it just feels funny to me to be carrying a "naked" bottle of wine while I'm having the drink of the day!)

 

And if the whole bottle is not drunk in that evening at dinner, are you responsible for carrying it BACK to your cabin, or will they hold it for you and transfer it to the next restaurant you go to? With fixed dining, your wine steward would just be sure your bottle appeared on your assigned table each night. Therefore you're free to leave the dining room and go to a show or casino or whatever without having to return the bottle to your cabin. But I am just not sure I understand it with Freestyle. Is it better to buy it by the glass, then, even though more expensive?

 

And if you brought wine on board, with fixed dining, your steward (or butler) would see to it that it got to the dining room for you. Is this not so with Freestyle? Thanks

[kirindy]

This is interesting to me. My sister just got onboard the HAL Volendam today with a case of wine. They only charge you if you bring it into public areas. You can drink all you want in your room or pour it into a glass and take it with you.

 

 

Holland America's policy

Bringing Alcoholic Beverages Onboard

Except for wine and champagne, alcoholic beverages purchased in the vessel's shops or otherwise brought on the ship cannot be consumed on the ship. Bottles and other containers will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the voyage.

 

A corkage fee of US$15.00 applies to wine and champagne brought to the restaurants or bars for consumption.

 

Room Service offers reduced-price stateroom beverage packages for in-stateroom consumption of alcoholic beverages.

[flamingos]

Just got off the Pearl, and we took 5 bottles on in my carry on, wrapped in t-shirts. The baggage scan caught it and I was sent to the corkage desk, where the lady looked perplexed - her kit had not been sent down from the ship. She hand-wrote two copies of a receipt, which I signed, and we both kept one. At the Cruise Critic meet & greet, I asked the hotel manager what to do and he had the sommelier call me - he appeared in my room 5 minutes after the call and put stickers on. We had no problems except for the night at La Cuccina, when the waiter asked for my name and cabin number to confirm that my bottle of wine with the corkage sticker on it really had been paid for. I was not pleased. Every other waiter in Mambo's, Summer Palace or Indigo had no such concern.

[Ms belp]

I was caught with a partial, left over bottle of wine on the 11/25 cruise. The woman behind me wa pulled out of line for a botle of champagne; it's just not worth it. Order the bar set-up, the Romance Package, the beer "helmut" (sorry, Chris, I just couldn't resist) and an extra bottle of wine, if you need.

[Wilcoam]

Here's to sipping a Vieux Donjon 2004 Chateauneuf Du Pape, rated 94/100 in WS, at Le Bistro on Jan 4th, while aboard the Jewel next week. One sip and I doubt I'll be worried about a minor $15.00 charge...

 

True, Having sailed both HAL, X, and Princess, they have much more flexible wine policies than NCL. They also provide sommeliers, and decanteurs, at dinner.

 

Of course, IMO, I'd much rather bring my own case/selction, than pay double for the same wine on X-HAL, (if I could find the right vintages n houses onboard anyway-lol). In that sense, $180 is still much less than the typical HAL-X markup.

 

Furthermore, I'd much rather sip my wine, during non-traditional non-fiixed dining hours. I prefer sipping it in jeans, or resort casual wear, and prefer sipping it next to pax closer to my age. (my last HAL cruise-avrg age was 75+, I'm 45)

 

However, to each their own...

 

jc

Toronto